From Whither the Next Chief Scientist. (June 13, 2008)

Jim Peacock

Jim Peacock, Australia's current Chief Scientist had his term extended by the Rudd Government from this past February until August to allow time to find a suitable replacement.

Dr Peacock serves three days a week and is responsible to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

While in opposition Senator Carr promised the position would become fulltime, but said nothing regarding to whom the Chief Scientist would be responsible.

According to Andrew Trounson of The Australian, the plan to make it fulltime has "broadly been welcomed by the scientific community", which is remarkable since few outstanding practicing scientists in the prime of research life would be prepared to up and leave their active careers and research groups. Both Robert May, and David King, past UK chief scientific advisors remained active researchers spending at least one day a week on their research and interacting with their groups while being bureaucrats four days a week. The US' John Marburger is fulltime but is little more than a figure head in the Bush administration.

Which brings up the second point, i.e. where do you put a chief scientist. Kurt Lambeck, president of the Australian Academy of Science, told Mr Trounson he'd prefer the position to be based in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. And said, speaking for the Academy, "We would anticipate that the chief scientist position would remain (across) the commonwealth, preferably in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, rather than within a particular department."

But to state what ought to be the bleedin' obvious, there's got to be a receptive mind for the seeds of wisdom to bear fruit.

Vannevar Bush had Harry Truman, and Robert May and David King had Tony Blair.

Peter Laver, vice-president of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, says: "We need a framework under which the problems are identified and policies are developed to overcome them, rather than having to be on the back foot all of the time."

If the individual chosen is not a top flight practicing scientist and remains in DIISR, Australia's Chief Scientist despite all the posturing will remain little more than a seat warmer.